deuce etymology

Etymology

The word "deuce" has several possible etymologies:

  • From the Latin word "dos," meaning "two."
  • From the French word "deux," also meaning "two."
  • From the Greek word "dus," meaning "unlucky" or "evil."

Meaning

"Deuce" primarily means the number two, but it can also have several other meanings:

  • In tennis, a score of 40-all.
  • In gambling, a pair of dice that both roll a one.
  • A worthless thing or person.
  • A particularly unlucky or troublesome situation.

Origin

The word "deuce" entered the English language in the 14th century. It was initially used as a slang term for the number two, particularly in gambling. By the 16th century, it had become a more general term for the number two, and it also began to be used in tennis and other sports to denote a score of 40-all.

The negative connotations of "deuce" as a worthless thing or person or an unlucky situation came later. It is thought that this may have been due to the association of the number two with the devil or other evil beings in some cultures.

deuce relate terms

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